Apparatus for testing external



Dec. 26, 1933. 1.. R. ADAMS 1,940,783

APPARATUS FOR TESTING EXTERNAL THREADS ON VALVE STEMS Filed May 16, 1930 3 SheetsSheet l INVENTOR LELRND R RDRMS,

ATTORN EYs,

Dec. 26, 1933.

L. R. ADAM S APPARATUS FOR TESTING EXTERNAL THREADS ON VALVE STEMS Filed May 16, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 26, 1933. L. R. ADAMS 1,940,783

APPARATUS FOR TESTING EXTERNAL THREADS ON VALVE STEMS Filed May 16, 1930 '3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR LELAND R. RDRMS- ATTORNEYS- Patented Dec. 26, 1933 APPARATUS FOR, TESTING "EXTERNAL THREADS oN v-AnvE; STEMS' iLelandlt. Ada1ns,:iAkron, ohi ogassignor to The i Firestone Steel t Products Company, hio,-\a;corporation of Ohio Akron,

'Application'May 16, 1930. Serial 453,065 a p 13 Glaimsp 'This invention relatesto apparatus. for testing the external thread'on valve stems. The general'object of the invention is torprovide efiicient, inexpensiveg foolproof means for rapidly and accurately testing the quality. and lengthof the external threadon small objects suchas valve stems. i

A-moreparticular object of the invention is l thev provision .of Va.rotatable.nut or internally 1 threaded bushing whichis. automatically reversed after screwing downupon the valve stem a deer terminedl adjustable distance. j a

The above iandother objects of the invention are achievedby thew-apparatus, illustrated in the accompanying V drawings anddescribed below, it being understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details thereof. shown and described.

In the drawingszf Y Figure 1 is afront elevationlof the apparatus. embodying the invention;

=Figure 2 is-a side elevationthereof;

Figure 3is a horizontal sectional'viewltaken. on I line 3-3 of-Figure '1; v j, Figure 4 isthe-wiring diagram of 'theapparatus. v t v The apparatus comprises a frame] 5' being formed-withabase 6 and abracket 7. Extending betweerrthe base6 and the bracket ,7 are chan- :nels- 8-8- which rslidablyr carry a -cross bar i 9.

The centerof the cross bar, 9 is enlarged .asat 10 which I enlargement-is grooved as 'at 13 1to receive the headli er avalvestem- 15. Plates. 16' se- 7 cured to the enlargement 10 and 7 extending over I v thegrooveel3 prevent relative longitudinal movementor-the valve-stem and the crossw bar. 9." In

" order to'prevent rotary movement of; the 'valve stem small plates 17-which bear againsttheflats or rthewalve stem raresecured to the plates 16.

Axially falignedewith the .valve stem 15 Ais a hollow spindle i 18 journalled in the bracket and-which is-secured to theshaft 19 .-of.\ a motor t -20; mountedton the upper end of -then-frame. I5.

"Removably secured -to--the endg off thehollow spindle 18.isa nutor-an .internallythreaded-bush- 46= ing; 23 which is adaptedtocooperate "with and *test the external threads on the valve-l stem fas hereafter described, 7

The switches" for controlling t espiation of .the motor 20 include-a switch 2l mounted on the 5(Hoase 6. The switch 24 may comprise a, pair of -contact-arms 25 and 26 normally-contacting but 1 adaptedvto beheld apart when the cross bar 9 is in itslowermost. position by. a pin '27,fixed"to Hthearm125 whicheengageswith the cross .bar 9. $5 r The-switch for controlling .the .'upward limit (0133-1199) of movement of the crossbar 9-may take the a form of a pairofbolts 28 slidably carried in insulating bushings 29 in the bracket'I. Springs 30 .acting between the heads of'the bolts 28'and the bushings 29 ,yieldingly holdthe bolts in a downward position as adjustably limited by lock nuts '33. Fixed'transversely of the cross bar 9 isa plate 34 which servesfto complete the circuit through the; bolts,28 when the cross bar is in its .raisedposition. A push button3l may be connected across the bolts 28 if desired.

t Secured to "the back of the frame 5 is a box'35 which contains a solenoid reversing switch indicated diagrammatically in Figure 4. The sole- Qnoidswit'ch comprises a solenoid 3'6 and a plunger 37 normally held down'by springg38. Pivotally carriedontthe ends of an insulating cross member39 fixed to the plunger 37 are a pair of switch I shoes 39 which cooperate with switch points 43- to'cont'rolpthe directionof rotation of; the motor 7 20. A plate 44 fixed' to the other. en'd of the plunger 37 engages'with-contact points 45 'to'act as a holding in switch as hereafter explained.

The various "switches andjsolenoid are connectecl as illustrated in Figure 4 by leadsglfi to a suitable source or current. A hand controlled snap switch is provided in the circuit asshown.

Achute ,48 is preferably; secured to the baseffi just'behind and below the cross bar 9.

Inthe operation of the device, a valve stem 5 15' having external; threads thereon to b'ei tsted 1m length and quality is slid by the operator into the groove 13' onthe cross bar 9 softhat the flats on thevalve stem lie ,between and against the= plates- 17. Thesvvitch 47'is nowthrown to '90 start the'motor 20 which rotates the hollow spin- ,dle 1 18 and nut. 23in a right hand or; lockwise "direction; The operator now lifts thecros's' bar 9 and thus'the' valve stem 15Lup in; the; slides 8' until the .nut 23 engageswith the external thread I on the valve stem 15. The operator can now remove his handnas the nut 23fscr'ewing on the valve stem-raises it up into the spindle and thus carries the cross bar 9 uplwith it.

6 the switch 24 closes aswill be evident. The upward movement of the crossbar and valve stem as actuated by the screwing of the nut 23 onto the valve stem continues until the .plate 34 contacts with'thebolts' 2'8. Thisco mpletes the circuit'to the solenoid 36 which raises the plunger 3'7v moving the contact: shoes 40 to the upper two contact points43, thus reversing the motorv 20.

t Y .The reversingiof the, n otordrives' the nut 23 in'a counter clockwise" orleft-handdirection so .As' the cross bar'9 moves away from the base 1001" i solenoid 36. As soon as the solenoid is deenergized the spring 38 will pull the plunger 3'7 down to again reverse the motor 20 by movingthe cone tact shoes to the two bottom sets of contacts 43.

The operator now inserts-"another valve stem into the front of the groove 13 on the cross bar 9 and thus pushes the tested valve stem out the back of the groove and onto the chute 48. The operation is now repeated as desired.

The motor 20 which rotates the nut 23 isrelatively light and is designed to stall in case the external threads on the valve stem are improperly formed or are not of sufficient length. In case the motor stalls it will always stall when the nut is screwing on the stem. In case this happens the operator mayenergize the solenoid 36 to reverse the motor by pushing the push button 31. If thenut 23 has bound on the valve stem and will'not back off underthe power of the motor theoperator may twist the spindle and nut with his free hand to assist the action of the ,motor.

Of course the push button 31 may be omitted in which case the switch 4'7 is snapped and the valve stem removedby hand.

By adjusting the lock nuts 33 on the bolts 28 the length of thread tested can be varied.

.be widely varieds It will be apparent that while the invention has been particularly described for the. testing of external threads on valve stems that the invention can be adapted to test externally threaded articles of all sorts. Moreover, the invention contemplates replacing thevnut 23 and the hollow spindle 18 with an externally threaded spindle to test internally threaded articles.

In the embodiment of the invention described :certain types of limiting switches have been specifically employed, however, it will be understood that the type or exact details of the switches may As many other changes could be made in the construction, it is intended that all matter v00:1-

tained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall. be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense, accordingly various modifications and applications of the inventioncan be resorted to without departing from the spirit of'the invention or the scope of the appended claims. 1

What is claimed is I 1. Apparatus for testing external threads on valve stems comprising a frame, a cross bar slidablycarried in said frame, a hollow spindle journalled in said frameand extendingstowards said cross bar, a nut, on the extending end of said spindle and adapted to cooperate with the external threads on a .valve stem to be tested, means 'for'holding a valve stem on saidcross bar, means for rotating said spindle, reversing means 'for controlling the direction of rotation of said spindle, means for automatically operating said reversing means after the nut has screwed on the valve stem a predetermined distance, and auto- -matic means for again operatingsaid reversing means after the nut has unscrewed from th valv stem.

ing said threaded member, reversing means for 2. Apparatus for testing external threads onvalve stems comprising a frame, a cross bar slidably carried in said frame, a nut journalled in said frame and adapted to cooperate with the external threads on a valve stem to be tested, means for holding a valve stem on. said cross bar, means for rotating said nut, reversing means for con- .trolling the direction ofrotation of said nut,

controlling the dircction'of rotation of said member, means for automatically operating said reversing means after said member has screwed on the article a predetermined distance and. automatic means for again operating saidreversingflfid means after threaded member has unscrewed from the article. I

4. Apparatus for testing external threads on valve stems comprising a frame, a cross bar slidably carried'in said frame,'a hollow spindle journailed in said frame, a nut on said spindle and adapted to cooperate with the external threads on a valve stem to be tested, means for holding a valvestem on said cross bar, weak means for rotating said spindle adapted to stall if the 1 19 threads" on the nut and valve. stem do not conform, reversing means for controlling the direction, of rotation of said spindle,'means for automatically operating said reversing means after the nut has screwed on the valve stem a media- 315 terinined distance, and] automaticv means for 'again operating said reversing means after the nut has unscrewed from the valve stem.

5. In combination in thread testing apparatus,

means for removably supporting an article to be fzo tested, a, rotatable threaded member relatively movable with respect to said article supporting means, means for rotating said threaded member, reversing means'for controlling the direction of t rotation of said member, means for automatically-1 25 operating said reversing means upon determined relative movement of said threaded member and said article supporting means, and automatic means for againoperating said reversing means after determinate opposite relative movement 012 said article supporting means and said threaded member.

6. In combination in thread testing apparatus, means for removably supporting an article to be tested, a rotatable'threaded member relatively movable with respect to said article supporting means, means for rotating said threaded member, reversing means for controlling the direction of rotation of said member, and meansfor automatically operating said reversing means upondetermined relative movement of said threaded member and said article supporting means,

7. Apparatus for testing external threads on valve stems comprising a frame, a cross bar slidably carried in said frame, a hollow spindle bur- M5 nalled in said frame and extending toward said cross bar, a nut on the extending end of said spindle and adapted to cooperate with the ex-' ternal threads on a valve stem to be tested, means for holdinga valve stem on said cross bar, means for rotating said spindle, reversing means for controlling the direction of rotation of said spindle, and means for automatically operating said for automatically operating said reversing means upon determined relative .movement of said threaded member and said article supporting means, said reversing means including a revers-,

ing switch operated by a solenoid coil.

9. In combination in thread testing apparatus,

means for removably supporting an article to be tested, a rotatable threaded member relatively movable with respect to said article supporting means, means for rotating said threaded member, reversing means for controlling thedirection'of rotation of said member, means for automatically operating said reversing means upon determined relative movement of said threaded member and said article supporting means, and automatic means for again operating said reversing means after determinate'opposite relative movement of said article supporting means and said threaded member, said reversing means including a solenoid operated reversing switch.

10. Apparatus for testing external threads on valve stems comprising a frame, a cross bar slidably carried in said frame, ahollow spindle journalled in said frame and extending towards said cross bar, a nut on the extending end of said spindle and adapted to cooperate with the external threads on a valve stem to be tested, meansior holding a valve stemon said cross bar, means for rotatingsaid spindle, reversing means for controllingthe direction of'rotation of said spindle, means for automatically operat-' ing said reversing means after the nut has screwed on the valvestem a predetermined distance, and automatic means for again operating said reversing means after the nut has unscrewed from the valve stem, said reversing means including a solenoid operated reversing switch.

11. In. apparatus for testing external thread on valve stems comprising a vertically'movable slide, a rotatable nut journalled above said slide and adapted to cooperate with the external thread on the valve stem to be tested, means for holding a valve stem on said slide, means for rotating said nut, said means being relatively weak and adapted to stall if the threads to be tested do not conform to specifications, a reversing switch controlling the direction of rotation of said nut rotating means, means for automatically throwing said switch to reverse the rotation of said nut after the nut has screwed onto the stem a determined distance, and means actuated by the'slide after the nut has screwed off the stem'to again reverse the switch.

"12. In apparatus for testing external thread on valve stems comprising a vertically movable slide, a rotatable nut journalled above said slide and adapted to cooperate with the external -weak and adapted to stall if the threads to be tested do not conform to specifications, a reversing switch controlling the direction of rotation of said nut-rotating means, and means for automatically throwing said switch to reverse the rotation of said nut after the nut has screwed onto the stem a determined distance,

13. In apparatus for testing external thread onvalve stems comprising a movable slide, a rotatable nut journalled with respect to said slide and adapted to cooperate with the external thread on the valve stem to be tested, means for holding a valve stem on said slide, means for rotating said nut, said means being relatively weak and adapted to'stall if the threads to be tested do not conform to specifications, a reversing switch controlling the-direction of rotation of said nut rotating means, and means for automatically throwing R. ADAMS. 

